Liquid dispensing apparatus



Nov. 2, 1937. E. e. HEDGES ET AL 2,098,093

LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Feb.-2 4, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR E6. Hffl6f5 BY 2.67764455' ATTORNEY Nov. 2, I937. E. e. HEDGESET AL 2,098,093

LIQUID DISPENS ING APPARATUS an Q Q ATTORNEY Nov. 2, 1937. E. G. HEDGESET AL I 2,093,093

LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 24, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUSEdward G. Hedges, Newark, and Robert Stickles, Union, N J.

Application February 24,

10 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for cooling and dispensing liquidand relates more particularly to a system for dispensing gas containingliquids forced through a conduit under pressure.

An object of the invention is to provide a cooling apparatus in whichthe cooling tanks during operation are completely sealed against theentrance of air.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cooling apparatusincluding a plurality of containers which may be filled successivelyandin which the gases from one container are caused to flow into anothercontainer.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus in which aplurality of containers or cooling tanks are connected by conduits forthe flow of liquid from one tank to another and in which gasesaccumulating in a partly filled tank are caused to flow into an adjacenttank under the action of flowing liquid.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for coolingand dispensing gas containing liquid such as beer wherein automaticindication is given when the source of supply, as for example, the keg,is empty.

Another object of the invention is to provide a beer cooling anddispensing apparatus in which a new source of supply may be connectedwithout the necessity of emptying the cooling tanks.

Various systems have been made for cooling and dispensing gas containingliquids such as beer, and it is common practice to use a plurality ofcooling vessels or tanks surrounded by a cooling coil or by a coolingmedium such as ice or mechanical refrigeration. It is also known thatwhen connecting these tanks to a keg and applying pressure to the liquidin the keg (as is the practice) that the liquid is forced into the 40first tank and when this tank has partly filled and the released andinitial gases have been compressed at the top of the tank, the incomingliquid is prevented from filling the tank and the liquid starts to flowinto the next tank through a conduit as provided.

Various means have been employed for relieving the partly filled tank ofgas which means have in some cases been in the form of automatic valvesor hand cocks which may be opened to relieve the pressure and thenclosed. It has been found that in the case of a hand cook or valve thatit is dificult to determine the proper time to open the cock and in thecase of automatic valves that they discharge liquid causing a loss ofliquid to the user of the system in use, Serial No. 65,284

which such valves are provided. Furthermore, in the case of automaticvalves the pressure isgradually relieved and the keg empties withoutgiving any indication of such conditions to the one dispensing theliquid and the tank or tanks then become empty making it necessary, eachtime a new keg is connected, to fill the tanks with relatively warm beerwhich must be cooled before it is dispensed.

Furthermore in systems where it is necessary to empty the tanks eachtime a new keg is connected, the moist air in the tank is subjected tothe cold surface of the tank and freezes in the form of a. layer offrost. It has been found that the presence of frost in the tanks resultsin what is termed flat beer, making it necessary in some extreme casesto waste a portion of the beer when a new keg is connected since flatbeer is unpalatable.

In the present apparatus the tanks are connected to a keg and as thebeer fills the first tank to the point where the pressure prevents thefurther filling of the tank, the liquid flowing into the next tank actsto operate an ejector in communication with the first tank to causethegas above the liquid in the first tank to enter the second tank thuspermitting the beer flowing from the keg to fill the first tank. Meansin the form of an outlet cock are provided for removing excess gas fromthe last or dispensing tank. The removal of excess gas is only necessaryhowever for the initial filling of the tanks. This means is employed sothat the excess gases may be drawn ofi conveniently without loss of anyappreciable amount of liquid. The purposes and advantages of thisoperation will be more clearly explained hereinafter.

The invention will be more clearly understood by reference to thefollowing description together with the accompanying drawings, in whichFig. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus embodying the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the tanks shown in Fig. 1taken in vertical cross section;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the tanks shown in Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view in cross section showing the upperportion of a tank.

The present invention is shown and described as applied to a dispensingsystem including a compressor II], which by means of pipe I I, subjectsthe beer or other liquid in a keg l2 to a predetermined pressure.sufficient. to hold beer in what may be considered a solid state, thatis,

impregnated with the desired gaseous content In place of a compressor itis practical with the present system to use a tank of CO: gas. A pipepressed in the upper portion ll thereof the beer 7 fiows through conduiti3 into the next cooling tank, i1.

Ordinarily the tank It would not fill entirely and the upper portion oftank I! would also be prevented from filling but the opposing gases inthe upper portion of the tanks are, in accordance with the presentinvention, carried from one tank to another and discharged into the lastor dispensing tank by means of gas relief valves in the form of ejectors2i! and 2| having screens'2l' and 2|. A screen 22' is also provided intank IT to collect any sediment or foreign'matter.

Although only two tanks are shown it is obvious that a greater number ofsuch tanks may be employed. The tanks are disposed in a refrigerator 22containing a cooling medium such as ice or mechanical refrigeration tobring the beer to a desired low temperature.- When the beer flows fromthe keg and enters the tank H it is relatively warm and as it flows intothe tank an appreciable amount of gas escapes and builds up a pressurein the upper portion of the tank. Some of the gas escapes through therestricted opening 23 leading to the ejector 20. The area of thecommunicating opening 23 may be varied by means of a hand valve 24'having a stem 24 which may bemoved to close the opening entirely oradjusted to control the amount of gas passing into the adjacent tank.

The gas in the upper portion of the tank I does not however escape fastenough to permit the liquid to fill the tank and the liquid thereforestarts to fiow through pipe it into tank IT. This flowing liquid travelsthrough portion 25 of pipe it in which a tubular extension 28 isdisposed. This extension affords communica-' tion between the pipe l6and the restricted opening '23 leading from tank I. The flowing liquidcreates a vacuum in the extension thus accelerating the movement of thegas or foam from the upper portion of tank ll into the moving liquid inpipe i6 and the gases or foam are thus carried into the tank I! thuspermitting the liquid in tank ll to reach a high level and fill thistank. It will be understood that by reason of the ejectors the gasespass from one tank to the next and finally when accumulated in thedispensing tank may easily be drawn oil. In the present construction thegas from tank ll accumulates at the top of tank i! from which it isremoved by opening a pet cock in a manner to be later described.

Although liquid flows into the tank I 'l the compressed gas in the upperportion of this tank prevents it from being filled entirely. However,because the liquid, prior to flowing into tank II, has been cooled intank I 3, it is evident that the gas accumulating above the liquid intank I! will be considerably less than that above the liquid in tank II.

,As shown the ejector 2| on the tank II, which tank may be termed thedispensing tank, is similar in its essential construction to the ejector20 except that elector 2| has a depending tubular extension 21 whichlengthens the constricted outlet 28 which is controlled by a hand valve29' having a stem 29. A tubular extension 3| is dis-,posedinaconduitflleadingtoachamber 33 terminating in a hand valve orspout 34. Within the chamber 33 is a cartridge containing a quantity ofloose particles to restrict the fiow of the beer.

pressure is shown and described in copending application of E. G.Hedges, Serial No. 6,853 filed February 16, 1935 and in combination withthe gas control of the present invention serves to make possible adesired degree of fiow from the nozzle or spout 34 to permit the fillingof a receptacle with quiet beer or beer for immediate consumption inwhich the gases are not unpleasantly active.

When the tanks are filled. at the initial filling, the tank I as abovementioned fills completely. In the tank il a cushion of gases and foamaccumulates leaving the level of the liquid a considerable distance fromthe lower end of the extension 21. It will be evident that anopeningofthenozaleflwouldcauseafiowofgas from the top of tank I! sincethe gases would enter the depending extension 21 and agitate the beerflowing through the conduit. This excess amount of gas would of courseonly occur for a short time or until the high pressure gas above 1 thebeer had been removed but would necessitate the loss of several glassesof beer. To avoid this loss means are provided in the form of a petcock35 positioned in convenient reach below the spout 34. This pet-cock isconnected by pipe 33 to an opening 31 at the top of the dispensing tankl1. When the pet-cock is opened the excess gas .escape's carrying a verysmall quantity of.

liquid, in fact the discharge is in the form of a heavy foam and theamount of beer lost is extremely small amounting to several ounces.

After the excess gas has been removed the level of the beer in the tankI! rises filling the tank completely thus cutting off the fiow ofgasthrough the outlet 23 and instead a small amount of beer flowsthrough-this outlet and into the conduit 32 each time a quantity of beeris drawn. When the excess gas has been removed the pet-cock is closedand it is not necessary to again open this This form of construction ormeans for retarding the rate of fiow without changing the cock unlessall the beer has been removed the tanks were empty. In the presentsystem as soon as the keg is empty and the beer level in the tank I!drops below the extension 21 the gas is forced through the ejectorpassage and into the conduit 32. Thus the one dispensing beer uponopening the spout notes the discharge of gas or foam. The spout isimmediately closed and valves 33 and 39 at the keg are closed. The kegis disconnected and another keg connected. The beer is then forced intothe tanks and after relieving the excess gas by means of pet-cock 33 thesystem is again ready for use.

It has been found that by reason of the cartridge 33 the conduits may beof relatively large inside diameter. For example, the conduit leadingfrom the bottom of tank II, for the fiow of liquid into tank ll, may beof an inch inside diameter and the conduit leading upwardly fromthebottomoftankllmaybey ofaninch inside diameter. Thus a quick supply ofliquid may be obtained and at the same time by reason of the looseparticles in the cartridge 33 the dispensed liquid is delivered at apractical rate of speed and the condition known as quiet", particularlywhen dispensing beer, is attained,

The purpose of the small inside diameter of the conduit leading from thetank I! is to reduce the amount of gas in the conduit and thus minimizethe discharge of gas when the faucet is initially opened. Obviously noexcessive accumulation of gas will occur after the conduit has oncefilled with liquid and the liquid is being dispensed.

It is immaterial with my system whether or not the beer in the freshlytapped keg is warm, as for example at a temperature of 60 to 65 degreesF., because after the new keg is connected to the system the beer drawnfrom the spout comes from the tanks which are full and in which the beeris fully cooled. This is of decided advantage as will be appreciated bythose familiar with existing systems.

As heretofore mentioned the tanks are com- Dletely sealed from theatmosphere, there being no outlet to the atmosphere therefrom exceptthrough the pet-cock 35 and this only when the system is initiallyfilled or re-tapped.

In providing a sealed system the tanks are each provided with a flange4| and a reinforcing collar 42 which seats on a collar or separatorplate 43. This separator plate may include any number of apertures toseat collars 42, the apertures being spaced in accordance with theselected arrangement of the tanks. In the drawings where only two tanksare shown each tank is provided with a cover 44 held in place by a forcebolt 45 extending through a threaded aperture at one end of a yoke 46.The yoke is held in place by a tie bolt 41 secured at one end to thecollar plate and extending through the yoke a tightening nut is providedto draw the force bolts into firm contact with the covers and theseforce or pressure bolts may be turned to exert the necessary force tohold the covers tightly against gaskets 48 thus eifectively sealing thetanks.

It will be obvious that by reason of the novel construction of theholding means for the covers that all the covers are readily removableby the manipulation of a single bolt when it is necessary to clean outthe tanks.

The covers are, however, easily'replaced and force necessary to keepthem tight against internal pressure may readily be applied by means ofthe force bolts provided. The interiors of the tanks are thereforeeasily accessible which offers a considerable advantage.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and describedherein, it is to be understood that modifications may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the appended claims.

" What is claimed is:

1. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a pair of containers, asource of liquid supply for said containers, a conduit for the flow ofliquid from one container to the other container, pressure exertingmeans for forcing said liquid into said containers, means connected tosaid containers for drawing liquid therefrom, and means in said conduitoperating upon a flow of liquid through said conduit to remove gas abovethe liquid level in one container for discharge into the othercontainer.

2. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a pair of containers, asource of liquid supply for said containers, a conduit for the flow ofliquid from a container to the other container, pressure exerting meansfor forcing said liquid into said containers, means connected to saidcontainers for drawing liquid therefrom, and an ejector in said conduitfor causing gases or foam above the liquid level of one container to bedischarged into the other container.

3. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a plurality of containers, asource of liquid supply for said containers, means providingcommunication between said containers, means for forcing liquid fromsaid supply into one of said containers and through said first mentionedmeans into the other container, means connected to said containers fordrawing liquid therefrom, and means controlled by liquid flowing throughsaid first mentioned means for causing gases or foam above the level ofliquid in one container to flow into an adjacent container.

4. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a plurality of containers, aprimary source of liquid supply for said containers, conduits for theflow of liquid from one container to another container, means connectedto said containers for drawing liquid therefrom, and a by-pass incommunication with one container above the liquid level thereof torelease accumulated gases from one container to another, and meanswhereby a drop in the liquid level below a predetermined point in atleast one of said containers gives physical indication of the depletionof the liquid at the primary source.

5. A liquid dispensing system comprising a plurality of hermeticallysealed tanks, means for conducting liquid from one tank into another,means connected to said tanks for drawing liquid therefrom and arestricted passageway leading from the one tank into said firstmentioned means, whereby the gas above the liquid in the one tank isforced into the other tank upon the flow of liquid through said firstmentioned means.

6. A liquid dispensing system comprising at least two tanks, means foradmitting liquid to one of said tanks, means connecting said tanks topermit the flow of liquid from the one tank into the other, meansconnected to said tanks for drawing liquid therefrom, means connectingone tank with the other to remove gases from the one tank into theother, and means for accelerating the movement of said gases upon theflow of liquid through said second mentioned means.

7. In a pressure system for dispensing activated liquids, thecombination of at least two tanks, one constituting a receiving tank andone a dispensing tank, means for-forcing activated liquid under pressureinto said receiving tank, means for conducting liquid from saidreceiving tank into said dispensing tank, means for relieving thepressure of the gases above the liquid in said receiving tank, saidmeans being disposed in such relation to the liquid flowing from thereceiving tank to the dispensing tank as to discharge the gases from thereceiving tank thereto and also to cause an acceleration of the movementof said gases.

8. A. system closed to the atmosphere for dispensing charged liquids,comprising in combination, a plurality of tanks and a source of liquidsupply, means for maintaining pressure upon said liquid in said source,means for connecting one of said tanks to said source, means fordispensing liquid from another of said tanks, means interconnecting saidtanks in serial relation for the passage of liquid from one tank toanother, and means communicating with said last mentioned means to passgases accumulating above the level of the liquid in one tank into saidcommunicating means. i

9. A system closed to the atmosphere for dispensing charged liquids,comprising in combination, a plurality of tanks and a source of liquidsupply, means for maintaining pressure upon said liquid in said source,means for connecting one of said tanks to said source, means fordispensing liquid from another of said tanks, and means interconnectingsaid tanks in serial relation to pass gases accumulating above the levelof the liquid in one tank into the liquid flowing into the next tank inthe series.

10. A system closed to the atmosphere for dispensing charged liquids,comprising in combination, a plurality of tanks and a source of liquidsupply, means for maintaining pressure upon said liquid in said source,means for connecting one of said tanks to said source, means fordispensing liquid from another of said tanks, conduits connecting saidtanks in series, and means in each conduit for discharging gas above theliquid level of one tank into the liquid flowing into another tank.

- EDWARD G. HEDGEB.

ROBERT S'I'ICKLES.

